192.131. Definitions--health care-associated infections data to be reported--confidentiality--plan to help monitoring to be developed--required standards.

MISSOURI STATUTES AND CODES

192.131. Definitions--health care-associated infections data to be reported--confidentiality--plan to help monitoring to be developed--required standards.

Definitions--health care-associated infections data to bereported--confidentiality--plan to help monitoring to bedeveloped--required standards.

192.131. 1. As used in this section, the following terms shall mean:

(1) "Advisory panel", the infection control advisory panel createdby section 197.165, RSMo;

(2) "Antibiogram", a record of the resistance of microbes to variousantibiotics;

(3) "Antimicrobial", the ability of an agent to destroy or preventthe development of pathogenic action of a microorganism;

(4) "Department", the department of health and senior services.

2. Every laboratory performing culture and sensitivity testing onhumans in Missouri shall submit data on health care associated infectionsto the department in accordance with this section. The data to be reportedshall be defined by regulation of the department after considering therecommendations of the advisory panel. Such data may include antibiogramsand, not later than July 1, 2005, shall include but not be limited to thenumber of patients or isolates by hospital, ambulatory surgical center, andother facility or practice setting with methicillin-resistantstaphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE).

3. Information on infections collected pursuant to this section shallbe subject to the confidentiality protections of this chapter but shall beavailable in provider-specific form to appropriate facility andprofessional licensure authorities.

4. The advisory panel shall develop a recommended plan to uselaboratory and health care provider data provided pursuant to this chapterto create a system to:

(1) Enhance the ability of health care providers and the departmentto track the incidence and distribution of preventable infections, withemphasis on those infections that are most susceptible to interventions andthat pose the greatest risk of harm to Missouri residents;

(2) Monitor trends in the development of antibiotic-resistantmicrobes, including but not limited to methicillin-resistant staphylococcusaureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) infections.

5. In implementing this section, the advisory panel and thedepartment shall conform to guidelines and standards adopted by the Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention. The advisory panel's plan may providefor demonstration projects to assess the viability of the recommendedinitiatives.